Bahrain Duty Free Company establishment announced

(Manama) – Key agreements were signed among Gulf Air Group Holding BSC (GFG), Bahrain Duty Free Shop Complex BSC (BDFS) and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) in relation to the core duty free shopping offers at Bahrain International Airport’s (BIA) New Terminal.

An agreement between GFG and BDFS will see the establishment of a new joint venture under the name of Bahrain Duty Free Company (BDFC) that will invest in approximately 3,300 square metres shopping space in both the Departures and Arrivals areas of the New Terminal being built as part of the $1.1 billion Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP). The agreement, signed by GFG Chairman, the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, and BDFS Chairman, Farouk Almoayed, will give BDFS’s a 55% stake in the airport’s core duty free business, with GFG holding 45%.

As the operator and managing body of the airport, BAC, represented by its CEO, Mohamed Yousef Al Binfalah, signed a 15-year concession with the newly-established BDFC, with the General Manager of Bahrain Duty Free Shop Complex Bassam Al Wardi signing on behalf of BDFC.

The joint venture is in line with GFG’s strategic objectives to enhance the aviation sector’s contribution to the local economy, in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, as the minister explained: “The formation of this company marks a notable milestone for GFG’s aviation investment strategy. By increasing our investment in BIA’s duty free offerings, we are not only supporting local businesses, but also ensuring that the aviation sector becomes a catalyst for further growth in commerce and retail. We are confident that passengers travelling through the New Terminal will discover a truly transformed retail experience.”

Almoayed said: “We are delighted to enter into this new joint venture with GFG. This public private partnership business model brings together the expertise required to deliver a world beating duty free offering to passengers at BIA’s new terminal. On behalf of BDFC, we are proud to sign this heads of terms agreement with BAC for the operation of core categories at BIA’s new passengers Terminal Building. We truly believe that our 27 years of expertise in this area will help us ensure that we continue to deliver a first class shopping experience to every passenger travelling through the new passenger terminal.”

Al Binfalah said: “This new heads of terms agreement with BDFC replaces the previous one and signifies another success story for BAC’s Commercial Team. We are pleased to enter into this partnership with BDFC and look forward to working with them over the next few months to define a new and elevated travel retail experience for passengers as we continue our efforts to conclude agreements with other tenants and service providers at the New Terminal Building.”

The signing ceremony was also attended by other board members of GFG and BDFS and members of the BAC and BDFS management teams.